Author: Rrashima Swaarup Verma
The story is based in the late 1700s during British Rule. It’s a love story in the backdrop of changing political liaisons and engulfed by the gloom of testing times when interracial marriages were frequently looked down upon with disdain.
Recently appointed British Resident Lieutenant Colonel James Achilles Kirkpatrick falls in love at first sight with the 15 -year-old Khair-un-Nissa, belonging to a noble family, having close ties to the British, and holding tremendous political clout in Hyderabad.
However, they are both soon submerged in the challenges posed by conflicts related to their religions, James’s work commitments as well as their quest for survival. James’s relationship balance with both the Indian Royals and the British government becomes a bone of contention and despite being married and blessed with two beautiful children James and Khair do not have ever-lasting happiness.
The story is heart-wrenching and the narrative keeps you hooked till the end. The author’s research of the times is remarkable and this story takes you along a tumulous journey of love, sacrifice, deceit, and heart-break. The descriptions of the palatial grandeur, regal lives, the picturesque detailing of the flora, and nature’s paradise hold the reader in awe.
A must-read for a peep into the past!
